PRESIDENT KABILA WEDS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000965 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABILA WEDS REF: KINSHASA 790 ¶1. (U) President Kabila June 16 wed his long-time partner Olive Lembe in a civil ceremony at his official residence in Kinshasa. The civil ceremony was followed June 17 by a religious marriage, presided over by Catholic Cardinal Frederic Etsou and Protestant Monsignor Pierre Marini (who is also President of the transitional Senate). The two events, televised nationally, were attended by the families of both Kabila and Lembe, government officials, heads of diplomatic missions, and other VIPs. ¶2. (U) Notably absent from the proceedings was Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is opposing Kabila in the July 30 presidential election. Bemba was traveling in eastern DRC. The DRC's three other vice presidents, however, did attend the ceremonies. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Kabila's wedding, taking place shortly before the official start of the presidential campaign June 29, is a decidedly political move. The marriage will lend the President a certain gravitas, and he will be a stronger candidate as a married man than he would have been single. End comment. MEECE